Friday, June 15, 2012

Green Your Dog Review and Giveaway (June 15- June 23)


It has been about 4 weeks since I found out that my precious dog, Sasha, has Lupus.  We do not know how or why, but she has an auto immune disease.  Since this change in our lives I have been looking to make her as comfortable as possible.  With her disease it attacks the tissue around her nose, eyes, and mouth.  We were lucky that we caught it early and have her on the appropriate medication.  While it can not cure her, the medication slows down the disease.

So what am I doing for her to be as proactive as possible?  I am greening my dog and my home for her.  I have been learning more about the affects of toxins and chemicals.  For years I have been focusing on foods and staying away from additives, toxins, preservatives, processed foods and more to give my children the best I can for them.  Where I have struggled and been a little lost at times is the home.  I thought that all cleaning materials where chemicals and wondered if toxic free products really worked.  I have been learning all I can about Natural cleaning products, what ingredients are toxic, and what are safe. I have been making great steps in greening my home with DIY cleaners but wanted to explore some Green Companies.

With all auto immune diseases you have to reduce the toxins in that persons, or pets, environment.  I realized that I have been greening my family, but not really the dog or cats.  I use commercial shampoos,  food, and other products.

I was so excited when Better Life said they wanted to help me green my dog.  The  Love Your Dog Kit helps make everything easy and takes the guess work out.  Better life has cleaning products that are safer for pets and kids around the house.
Kit includes:
  • 2am Miracle                                    
  • Simply Floored
  • Dish It Out unscented
  • I Can See Clearly, WOW
  • 75 biodegradable Dog Waste Bags
  • Grooming Brush
  • Six compartment caddy
The Grooming brush was used on her coat first to help remove dry and and lose hair.  It worked wonderful and during her bath it worked as a gentle massage, she loved it!

Dish It Out works so wonderful on my dishes and counters.  I used it as a green pet shampoo for Sasha and it was perfect!  I was not rinsing a tons of soap off her, everything rinse easily and there was no residue left on her coat.  It left her clean and beautiful.

Because the dog and cats occasionally lick the windows, they make I can see clearly, WOW for glass surfaces.  I was very impressed with the ability to clean and have a streak free surface.  My kids love to use a oil based window crayon on the windows for window art.  I encourage creativity, as long as I can clean it up.  I have to say that the window cleaner I was previously using was not getting all the crayon off without serious elbow grease.  I was happy that the glass cleaner work so efficiently and better for my children's little hands and the dogs occasional taste testing.

The 2 am miracle, is just that, a miracle with No rinse, No residue.  "Finally, a safe nursery cleaner made for cribs, changing tables, changing pads, car seats, highchairs, diaper pails, toys, walls, doors, floors, mattresses", and DOGGIE accidents.  The cats and dog have had no accidents around the house, but I have used it on the litter box and to freshen the kids rooms.  The 2 am miracle has a delightful scent of lavender and chamomile, which is calming and it worked! 

My other favorite product, second to the Dish It Out, is the Simply Floored.  This has a very pleasant scent and easy to use.  After sweeping I use a clean damp mop, spray the floor cleaner right on to the flour and mop. This is a big plus for me because I see so often how the dogs and cats eat and lick off the flour.  No matter how much I pickup the kids still like to leave things for the pets. The flour cleaner and shampoo are the two ares I can see her picking up the most toxins with commercial cleaners.

The kit comes with 75 Pride Green biodegradable plastic waste bags.  These have been a bit of a struggle for me to use because I can't get past my brain that it is a plastic.  I gave up all plastic bags but these are biodegradable. I have used them when I take Sasha for runs.  They are the perfect size for when walking your dog and you need to use something to pick up the waste.  Since these are biodegradable, I feel better using them rather than regular plastic bags.
  • 75 Bags
  • Minimum 60% recycled material
  • Fully biodegradable in 18 - 24 months
All products fit perfectly in the six compartment caddy!   I find this great to just grab and go where I need to use them.  Since I have been greening the home, this is the only products I use besides my DIY cleaning products.  I like having a my home safe not only for the kids but the pets as well.

Check out Better Life Website 
Better Life Blog, for great ideas and tips to Green your home.
Find Better Life on Facebook
Follow Better Life on Twitter

BUY IT : The Love your Dog Kit is regularly $50 right now on promotion for $42.49

WIN IT:  One lucky US Reader will win a Love Your Dog Kit, valued at $50!!!!!  See Rafflecopter below to enter.  Winner will be contacted by email enter on Raffelcopter and have 24 hours to respond. 

Discloser:  I am not paid for my reviews.  I only review products that I believe to be safe and beneficial to the body.  These opinions are mine and mine alone.  I only hope to bring you the discovery of companies paving the path to better health and life, natural and green.  



a Rafflecopter giveaway

57 comments:

  1. I would love to win this for my pets. I have 2 minature Schnauzers named Shelby and Sasha.

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    1. Carol, I would highly recommend. :-) I like how effective everything was as a cleaner and that it had no toxins to effect the kids and pets. It is a win win!

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  2. What a great review. I am so sorry to hear about your Dog though. Living with an auto immune issue is very hard, I can not even picture what it must be life for a Dog who can not tell us how he is feeling!

    As for this great company I would love to try Automatic Magic. Honestly my dishwasher liquid is toxic if eaten but it is what works but I would love to find something else.

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    1. Great Choice Kimberly! I know we had to wait and watch how her nose was progressing to know what test to start with. She was in a lot of discomfort until now. I am glad that we have a great treatment plan, using vitamins to her support her immune system, and now reducing her toxins. I have a great out look on her condition.

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  3. automatic magic
    wcaligirl@gmail.com

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  4. I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. :(

    It's great to go green and I've been doing just that. Share your green ideas on your blog too.

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    1. Thank you Patty, she is a special companion! I think everything happens for a reason and Sasha was very instrumental in helping me make the finial jump to a completely green home. I was unsure about cleaners and liked the DIY because I knew there was no chemicals in them, but missed the convenience of commercial cleaners. The dogs shampoo and food was never in my mind to go green. Now the food, shampoos, litter, laundry, everything is a non toxic home. I recommend that everyone break up their change in stages. We have been changing over the last couple months and it was a nice gradual change. I will be sure to post some of my DIY recipes, also!

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    1. Thank you Beverly! Good luck on the Giveaway!

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  6. Any of the products look great; although I'd love them even more if they weren't in plastic bottles! :-/

    Poor Sasha! :( I hope you feel better, poochie! You're lucky to have a mama that is doing everything possible to make you comfortable!

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    1. You know the plastic containers was a concern for me too. I have really enjoyed the products and like how I use them in combination to my Natural DIY recipes. Thank you for your thoughts for Sasha! :-) I find her as a blessing, that she instrumented me in this change. It was a needed change for the safety of my children! She is like a pet gardian angel for them right now. What is safe for her is safer for the family.

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  7. So sad to hear about your little fur baby :( The products look fabulous though, and would love to try them out in my home!

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    1. Thank you Shawna :-) She is a big fur baby. You will love the products.

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  8. I think I'd like to try a Housewarming Kit because I don't want to try just one product! LOL!

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    1. I can agree with you there! I am going to be getting a few more.

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  9. Sorry to hear about your pup being sick but at least it prompted you to start getting your family healthy & green.

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    1. Thank you Pynk :-) I hate to make it sound like I am happy she got this instead of the kids, but she made me open my eyes that this change needed to happen. It is like she was a big neon sign that said "what if this happens to the kids". I was so concerned with no toxins in the food, and body products that I thought the chemicals in my cleaning products were minimal. I started using basic natural cleaning ingredients about 4 months ago, but had not changed my dish soaps, dog shampoos, pet foods, kitty litter, or floor cleaners. Her conditions said CHANGE EVERYTHING and now. I was lucky that this was a small change really because we were living a green life for the majority. I still like to use my natural DIY cleaners, Better Life at least gives me options.

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  10. sounds like great products, I will have to keep these products in mind if we get a dog which I would love to in the future.

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    1. Yes, check out their house kit! I know I really love the glass cleaner and Dish soap. :-) Thank you for stopping my mama to 4!

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  11. Sasha is so cute :O) I had a dog with Lupus he lived long and "healthy" life. remember to keep your nose out of the sun those scabs hurt I'm sure.

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    1. Thank you Melissa,she is a cutie. I have plans for her to be here a long time too. I am glad we caught it early enough to stop the progression. We use a screen that drops down and shades her from the morning sunshine, and she comes in a lot to get a break form the sun. The condition pretty much makes her allergic to the sun. The scabs were so horrible until we could get the biopsy and Meds started. I am giving her a very good Vitamin E which is really helping while taking the Meds. She also gets a non toxic sunscreen on daily. She is doing so much better and growing hair back. :-)

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  12. Anything to do with cleaning the house - probably the floor cleaner!!

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  13. Replies
    1. haha, they do make great companions!! Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I am so, so sorry to hear about Sasha. I think it is great that you are becoming so informed on how to better the time he has left, and I appreciate all this info. My dog, Lexi, is my whole family, and I would do anything for her. I will definitely be looking in to these products.

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    1. Thank you Melissa. I am so glad that I follow a great group of green bloggers that have been teaching me so much. They have helped me become more informed about toxins in cleaning and everyday products. I recommend anyone with kids and pets should look into greening their home. :-)

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  15. I am sorry to hear about Sasha. Many people do not realize how many toxic chemicals companies put into pet products. Some of them contain compounds that cause cancer. Your precious girl is very lucky to have a wonderful family.

    I really like the what-EVER all-purpose cleaner.

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    1. Since her condition started I am seeing more and more articles and news about Cancer on the rise from pet foods, products, and TREATS! I have always said that are skin is our largest organ and we take in so many toxins in our body and cleaning products. WHY, I did not think about my pets environment makes me so mad at myself. I am glad that we made this change quickly.

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  16. I want this!

    http://www.cleanhappens.com/products/auto-magic-automatic-dishwasher-gel

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    1. I am looking at getting this one too!!! I will let you know what I think of it.

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  17. Sasha, I hope you're feeling okay! Your momma is doing everything she can to make sure you're comfortable and happy. <3 :)

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    1. Thank you Beth, it was a great change that she opened my eyes to making. A silent but inspiring girl she is!

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  18. great review - thanks for sharing!

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  19. Jennifer P (Vicki Vix on Rafflecopter)June 16, 2012 at 9:42 PM

    I'd love to have the Starter Kit with Microfiber™.
    fromfurrin at gmail dot com

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  20. I would love the New Baby Essentials Kit. It would make a great baby shower gift, and I have three coming up in the next few months.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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    1. Oh wow, three! Yes, I think that would make a great baby shower gift! I love baby shower so much to be thankful for and celebrate.

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  21. Sasha, I hope you feel better, but I know that you are loved and you will be well taken care of.

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    1. Thank you Stacy. :-) She is such a sweet girl.

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  22. I would love to try the houswarming kit a little of everything!

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    1. Yes, it has a little bit of everything that is safe for you and your loved ones, the hairy and not so hairy :-)

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  23. Me and my dogs send our puppy love to Sasha:)

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    1. Oh thank you for the love. She sends her love back. :-)

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  24. Looks good to me! I'll be back to enter!

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    1. Thanks Debbie! Be sure to enter, they have some great products!

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  25. We're not pet people in this household...but it's nice to hear people that think highly of their pets like children :)

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    1. Yes, she is very special. The kids love her so much that we were all on egg shells until the treatment started working.

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  26. I did not realize that dog's could get lupus. Poor honey. She is a beautiful dog and it's great that you are taking such good care of her!

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    1. Thank you! We are trying. She is a pretty girl, and I was so happy when the scabbing stopped. She is doing so great now.

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  27. I would love to win this for my pup, Daisy. I'm so so sorry about Sasha. I hope she's feeling more comfortable with her lupus under control. :-(

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    1. She is much better Meegs. Thank you so much for your thoughts :-) I believe in being proactive, not just relying on medication, but doing everything in food and environment to support her body. It is the same for us. When we get sick we have to change everything that has a negative affect on healing. Reducing toxins allow her body to focus on other things rather than trying to rid itself of the chemicals.

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  28. I would love to try the WORK IT OWN IT hand soap.

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  29. Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about Sasha. We don't have any dogs in this house, but we do have two cats. I know both of them seemed much happier when we switched from using chemicals and a mop/Swiffer to using a steamer to clean the floors. It's wonderful that you're giving all these green products a try...and even better that they seem to be helping.

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